Telegraph-key.



No. 797,612. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. W. H. SOHERMERHORN. TELEGRAPH KEY.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 24,1905.

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NTTE ll STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HENRY SCHERMERHORN, OF REE HEIGHTS, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES J. GAHAGAN, OF HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed February 24,1905. Serial No. 2 17.159.

To (LY/Z whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY Sci-inn- MERHORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ree Heights, in the county of Hand and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Clelegraph-Key, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in telegraphkeys, and more particularly the means for closing the circuit when the key is not in use.

The principal object is to provide novel means of a simple nature for effecting the automatic closing of the switch when the operator relinquishes the key, thereby obviating the danger of leaving the circuit open. This mechanism, moreover, is so arranged that when in use there is no objectionable pressure or strain upon the fingers of the operator and a larger and more convenient actuating device or button is provided, which will obviate to a very material degree the liability of cramping the hand of the operator.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is described in the following specification.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved key. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the disposition of parts when in use with circuit open. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view with the switch closed, but indicating in dotted lines said switch in open position. Fig. 4. is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the combined conductor and switch-spring.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated a base-ring 6 is employed, which may be of any desired form and construction and has mounted thereon a stationary contact device 7, insulated from said base, as shown at 8. Fulerumed between its ends upon the base in the usual manner is a key-lever 9, constituting the movable contact device and having at one end the usual stop or limiting screw 10. The other terminal portion of the lever is downturned, as shown at 11, and then extends longitudinally, as illustrated at 12, said longitudinal portion 12 constituting the support for the button. This button consists of a post 13, suitably secured to the longitudinallyprojecting portion 12 and carrying at its upper end a substantially U-shaped head 14,forming a finger-receiving recess 15, which is located between the side margins of the head or button and is open at the front end of said button.

A binding device is formed in one of the journals for the key-lever 9 by means of an extra nut 16, and a wire, as 16, secured thereby, is thus grounded upon the base-ring 6 and is in electrical connection with the key-lever, and a binding-post 17, mounted on said basering, but insulated therefrom, as shown at 18, has electrical connection with the stationary contact device 7. This connection is secured through the medium of a conductor, formed of spring sheet metal, comprising a strip 19, one end of which isprovided with an offset car 20, that receives the lower end of the binding-post 17, the other end having an car 21, that receives the stationary contact device 7. This conductor is also provided with an extension 22, carrying a tapering leaf-spring 23, that constitutes a switch, and is bowed upwardly, extending through an opening 2 1, formed in the key-lever at one side of the fulcrum thereof. The spring 23 is thus adapted to bear against one wall of the opening which constitutes an upwardly-extending shoulder on the key-lever, and the free terminal por tion of said spring projects above the lever, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. Therefore it will be seen that the binding-post 17 is in electrical connection with the stationary contact device 7 and through the spring switch 23 with the keylever. For the purpose of opening this switch when it is desired to use the key the following mechanism is preferably employed: A longitudinally slidable device in the form of a bar 25 is located upon the key-lever and is provided with longitudinal slots 26, through which pass headed retainingstuds 27, secured to the lever and permitting the longitudinal as well as the raising movement of the bar. One end of this bar has suitably set thereinto an insulating-block 28, that bears against the projecting upper free terminal of the switch-spring 23. The other end of the lever extends between the terminals of the U-shaped button-head 14 and has an enlargement 29. An operating device in the form of a plate 30, of insulating material, is pivoted to and between the terminals of the U-shaped button, as shown at 31, and is downwardly movable into the finger-receiving recess. This operating device is, furthermore, provided with a depending rounded abutment 32, movable into engagement with the enlarged end 29 of the bar 25 when the operating device is swung downwardly into the finger-receiving recess.

It will be apparent that as long as the parts are in normal position the switchspring will be in engagement with the keylever, thus holding the bar 25 in its rearmost position, and consequently the operating device 30 raised and with its upper face in substantial alinement with the face of the button. In using this device the operator presses upon the plate 30 with his second finger, the first resting upon one side of the U- shaped button and the thumb bearing against one edge of the same, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The second finger thus enters the finger-receiving recess, pressing down the operating device, thereby moving the bar 25 forward and upward and disengaging the spring 23 from the key-lever. Consequently the circuit is broken and the key is ready for use in the ordinary manner. As soon as the operator removes his hand from the key the switch-spring automatically reacts to return the parts to their original position, thus closing the circuit. With this device it will be seen that there is no danger of leaving the circuit open, because of the automatic closing means. Moreover, the structure whereby the operations are accomplished is very simple, and the extended surface for the hand of the operator not only afi'ords more convenient and less strained positions for the fingers, but the switch can also be held open against the pressure of the spring thereon with ease and without any objectionable strains.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In atelegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a button thereon having afinger-receiving recess, a switch coacting with the lever, and means for actuating the switch including a finger-operated device located in the recess and movable downwardly thereinto.

2. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a button thereon havinga finger-receiving recess opening at the front of said button and located between the side margins thereof, a switch coacting with the lever, and means for actuating the switch including a finger-operated device pivoted in the recess and movable downwardly thereinto.

3. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a keylever, of a button thereon comprising a substantially U-shaped head forming a fingerreceiving recess, and a post supporting the head, a switch cooperating with the lever, and an actuating device for the switch pivoted between the terminals of the button and downwardly movable in advance of the post.

4. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a button thereon, a switch cooperating with the lever, and means for actuating the switch including a slidable device mounted on the lever, an operating device pivotally mounted adjacent to the button, and an abutment carried by one of the devices and borne against by the other.

5. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a button thereon, a switch cooperating with the lever, and means for actuating the switch including a slidable bar mounted longitudinally on the lever, and an operating device pivotally mounted adjacent to the button and having a rounded depending abutment bearing against the bar.

6. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a button mounted thereon and comprising a U-shaped head forming a fingerreceiving recess, aswitch cooperating with the lever, and means for actuating the switch, said means comprising a bar mounted longitudinally upon the lever and an operating device pivoted between the terminals of the body and downwardly movable into the fingerreceiving recess, said operating device having a depending projection cooperating with the said bar.

7. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a base, of a key-lever mounted thereon, a switch comprising a device mounted on the base and movable into and out of engagement with the lever, and means for operating the switch including a bar longitudinally slidable on the lever and operating against the switch device.

8. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a switch-spring movable into and out of engagement with the lever, and means for operating the spring including a bar longitudinally slidable on the lever and bearing at one end against the switch device.

9. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a switch-spring movable into and out of engagement with the lever, and means for operating the spring including a bar longitudinally slidable on the lever and having at one end an insulating-block which bears against the spring.

10. In a telegraph-key,the combination with a key-lever having an upwardly-extending shoulder, of a switch-spring movable into and out of engagement with the shoulder, and means mounted on the lever for actuating the spring.

11. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever having an upwardly-extending shoulder, of a switch-spring movable into and out of engagement with the shoulder and projecting above the lever, and means mounted on the lever and operating upon the projecting portion of the spring for actuating the same.

12. In a telegraph-key,the combination with a base, of a key-lever mounted on the base and having an opening, a switch device mounted on the base and said device extending into the opening and being movable therein into and out of engagement with the lever, and means for effecting such movement.

13. In a telegraph-key,the combination with a key-lever having an opening, of a switchspring extending into the opening and movable into and out of engagement with one of the walls thereof, and means mounted on the lever for effecting such movement of the spring.

1a. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a key-lever, of a button mounted thereon, a switch-spring movable into and out of engagement with the lever, a bar longitudinally slidable upon the lever and having an insulatingblock at one end that bears against the spring, and an operating device pivotally associated with the button and bearing against the bar.

15. In a teleg1'aph-key,tl1e combination with a base, of a key-lever fulcrumed thereon, a post located at one end of the lever, a substantially U -shaped button carried by the post and forming a finger-receiving recess in advance of the same, said lever also having an opening located contiguous to its axis, a switch-spring connected to the base and having its free terminal portion extending through the opening and bearing against one of the walls thereof, a bar longitudinally slidable on the lever and bearing at one end against the said free terminal portion of the switch-spring, and an operating device pivotally mounted between the terminals of the button and having a depending end bearing against the end of the bar opposite to that bearing against the spring.

16. In a telegraph-key, the combination with a base, of a stationary contact device thereon, a movable contact device coacting with the stationary contact device, a binding-post, and a device connecting the binding-post and the stationary contact device and having a yielding portion movable into and out of contact with the movable device and constituting a switch.

17. In a telegraph-key,the combination with a base, of a stationary contact device thereon, a key-lever coacting with the stationary contact device, a binding-post, and a device connecting the binding-post and stationary contact device and having a spring portion movable into and out of contact with the movable device and constituting a seat.

18. In atelegraph-key,the combination with a base, of a stationary contact device thereon, a key-lever coacting with the stationary contact device, a binding-post mounted on the base and insulated therefrom, and a conductor of spring sheet metal connecting the bindingpost and stationary contact device and having a spring-leaf movable into and out of engagement with the key-lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY SCI'IERMERHORN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. PRICE, WM. SUHN. 

